C369
Early morning.
The Kingdom of Lan was buzzing with the list of the 300 participants who had passed the preliminary round.
“Hmm.”
Choi Han looked at the mission that appeared in front of him.
[1. In the name of the ancient hero Gisk, who has been corrupted, find the hero and deliver the Sword of the Sun!]
The same thing happened to Alberu Crossman, who was in front of him.
“…….”
===================
-Related Sub-Mission 1 [Receive recognition from the swordsman who gave enlightenment to the ancient hero!]
===================
And Cale, who was observing, opened his mouth with a sullen expression.
“What are they doing?”
Alberu looked at his blonde hair, the same color as his, then looked at Cale, who had blue eyes like his, and extended his hand.
Crack!
An electric current ran through.
“…….”
And the Sword of the Sun rejected Alberu.
Alberu gestured to Choi Han.
“Try giving it to Cale Henituse.”
“…Yes.”
Choi Han handed the sword to Cale.
“Why?”
Cale received the sword indifferently. He scoffed at the comical scene that was unfolding from the morning.
“Take it.”
If he gives the Sword of the Sun to Alberu.
Crack!
An electric current ran through, and the sword rejected Alberu.
The Heavenly Demon, who was leaning against a pillar with a disdainful expression, said calmly.
“Five times.”
Currently, Alberu had been rejected five times.
“Choi Han.”
Cale knew the missions of the two.
“It seems you have to receive his recognition for His Highness to obtain that sword.”
Alberu looked at Choi Han and smiled cheerfully.
“Choi Han, haven’t you recognized me?”
“!”
Choi Han flinched and quickly opened his mouth.
“I recognize you!”
It’s true.
He trusted him, and he sometimes felt respect for Alberu.
Choi Han spoke with complete sincerity.
“It seems you only recognize him as the crown prince.”
At the words that the Heavenly Demon said bluntly, Alberu’s cheerful smile became brighter.
“Can’t you recognize his strength?”
And at his words, Choi Han stopped.
“It’s not like that.”
However, Choi Han replied seriously and with a serious expression.
“His Highness is strong enough.”
That was also true.
“Strong enough-”
Alberu smiled strangely.
Although he had taken Choi Han as his master, he hadn’t had a proper master-disciple relationship with him.
However, Alberu knew him well, as he had been observing him closely.
“Choi Han.”
Choi Han doesn’t compromise when it comes to strength.
“Do you think I can fight a Wanderer?”
Therefore, Alberu asked Choi Han about the important enemy at this moment.
“…”
Choi Han couldn’t say anything.
‘If he were a little more flexible, he would say that he could fight too.’
But Choi Han didn’t. He would only think about protecting Alberu if that situation arose.
“I don’t like this.”
Swoosh.
Alberu took out the lance he was carrying on his back.
Although it wasn’t the real Taerang, it was a white lance that he had been using since he started this game.
Whirr.
Alberu spun the long lance once with ease and pointed it at Choi Han.
“Master.”
He smiled cheerfully at Choi Han.
“What do you think about a duel with your disciple?”
He was full of jokes, but Choi Han read the emotion reflected in Alberu’s eyes.
It was anger.
“…”
Choi Han took a deep breath once and opened his mouth.
“Ten minutes.”
He replied seriously.
“If His Highness can stop me for ten minutes using all possible means, I will believe in you.”
Snick.
The corners of Alberu’s lips curved upwards.
Regardless of that, Choi Han continued speaking.
“You are not someone I should protect, but someone I can fight face-to-face.”
Ten minutes, not just attack, but stop me. I just have to hold on, and I will believe that you are someone I can fight.
After Choi Han finished speaking, Alberu opened his mouth after a few seconds of silence.
“I’ve always felt it.”
With a much more relaxed smile, he continued speaking.
“You are truly irreverent.”
Choi Han smiled awkwardly, but he didn’t avoid Alberu’s gaze.
‘Go ahead.’
At Choi Han’s gaze, which was full of that irreverence, Alberu’s anger faded. Because he had realized again that Choi Han was someone who faced him directly.
“No, why? Why do you suddenly tell me I’m irreverent? I haven’t done anything.”
Neither Choi Han, nor Alberu, nor the Heavenly Demon paid attention to Cale’s expression, who seemed to be indignant.
* * *
And now.
“Maybe the master’s test isn’t that easy?”
The tip of the lance that Alberu was holding trembled slightly.
“Hmm. I couldn’t afford to be careless.”
Choi Han was smiling awkwardly, but besides that, he was with his sword lowered.
He was like a well-sharpened sword.
“Yes, do it well!”
Alberu said with a relaxed smile.
“…….”
The hands holding the lance tightened.
‘Lance, magic.’
Choi Han had said he could use everything.
Alberu had decided to resist with the lance instead of magic.
‘Ha.’
However, after clashing with Choi Han’s sword only once, he had an idea.
‘I was arrogant.’
The arrogant one was him.
‘He has become stronger.’
He had definitely felt Choi Han’s strength when he fought the White Star in the past.
Quite some time had passed since then, so he had assumed that Choi Han had become stronger.
‘But he surpassed that assumption.’
Choi Han had actually become much stronger.
‘He’s not even using aura now.’
Choi Han, the Sword Master.
He wasn’t even using aura on his sword now. However, he was able to easily press the aura that enveloped Alberu’s lance and deliver a blow.
‘I was careless.’
Yes, I was careless. Too much. The corners of Alberu’s lips curved upwards.
Three worlds in total.
Choi Han, who had been with Cale in those worlds, surely-
‘He said he had taken a new path.’
The Ancient Dragon, Eruhaben, said that Choi Han’s strength was truly incredible. He simply felt that it was incredible, without giving it much importance.
‘You are foolish.’
Alberu realized an emotion he had been hiding inside.
‘Have you relaxed?’
Currently, the king had disappeared, and the Kingdom of Roan could be in danger. But Alberu’s power was very solid.
There were many enemies, from hunters to gods.
‘However, you thought you could do it.’
That’s why he had relaxed.
No, his mind had relaxed a little.
‘Ha. A little?’
He had relaxed a lot.
‘You are foolish.’
Alberu Crossman, you are truly foolish.
‘And you were excited.’
Although he had been carrying out missions under Ahn Roh Man’s supervision in this game, it had been fun leveling up in a new world, without realizing it.
Would it be because of that?
“Ha-”
No.
Now is not the time to make excuses.
‘When has my life been easy?’
Have you become careless?
Have you relied on comfort?
He had defeated the White Star, become the rising sun of the Kingdom of Roan, and established a solid power base.
However, he continued to train as always and work.
He thought he hadn’t changed.
He thought he hadn’t become careless.
“I go.”
Choi Han raised his sword. Alberu straightened his posture.
‘No. I have changed.’
If it were the original Alberu Crossman.
A bigger enemy. Even if there were a situation where he had to fight a god to protect my world-
He would have worked harder. He would have lived more intensely. Instead of enjoying this game, he would have endured the intense anxiety and thirst for victory.
He wouldn’t have done this!
Wooong-
A brilliant white and gold bloomed around Alberu.
Snick.
The corners of Choi Han’s lips curved upwards.
“…….”
And Alberu’s smile disappeared.
Choi Han opened his mouth.
“You are His Highness now.”
What an arrogant master.
Alberu didn’t have time to respond.
Tap.
The moment Choi Han took a step forward, lightly stepping on the ground.
“!”
Suddenly, he had come close to Alberu.
Alberu immediately swung his lance.
The advantage of the lance is distance.
He couldn’t let Choi Han enter his territory.
Kwaaang!
A roar that was on another level echoed.
Crack! Crack!
An electric current ran through the white lance.
It was Alberu’s mana.
Wooong-
Finally, Choi Han’s sword roared, and a black aura rose.
Kwang! Kwang!
Consecutive roars were heard. The wide training ground began to crack.
“Ha!”
Passote, the leader of Dark Abyss, had gotten up from his seat and was looking at the training ground. He felt a chill all over his body. However, Choi Han and Alberu couldn’t see what was happening around them.
Kwang!
Alberu’s lance pushed Choi Han’s sword.
Kwang!
The sword swung back towards the lance, and Alberu blocked it.
“Oh.”
At that moment, the Heavenly Demon chuckled.
Kwaaang-
A different roar echoed.
Swoosh-
Alberu was pushed back and stopped right at the edge of the training ground. Alberu, who was blocking his chest with the lance as if it were a shield.
“Ha, ha.”
His gaze, as he gasped, was directed only at Choi Han.
“Ha!”
And Choi Han laughed.
After that.
Kwaa! Kwang! Bang! Bang!
Consecutive explosions occurred.
A golden glow exploded around Choi Han, producing a roar.
-Human, the best defense is a preemptive attack!
Cale looked at the training ground, ignoring Raon’s words.
Tap.
Alberu moved.
‘As expected.’
The crown prince isn’t someone who will only defend.
Kwang! Kwang! Bang!
While the explosions continued endlessly.
Swoosh.
The crown prince took a magic stone out of his pocket and threw it into the air.
He really intended to use everything.
Crack.
The magic stones shattered.
When a large amount of mana generated over the training ground, Alberu didn’t stop.
Rumble-
As if thunder was approaching.
Towards Choi Han, who wasn’t visible due to the explosion.
Kwaaang-
Lightning began to fall.
‘It’s not enough!’
However, Alberu felt it.
It wasn’t enough.
Dozens of explosions.
Endless lightning fell on Choi Han.
‘Choi Han will surely be fine.’
Therefore, Alberu ran towards the center of the typhoon, which wasn’t visible due to the explosion.
Whirr.
And he raised his lance.
‘Don’t stop hitting.’
Attack relentlessly.
I’m going to use all the attacks I can.
Because-
‘Choi Han won’t hurt me.’
Alberu really fought with everything he had.
It didn’t just mean strength.
He also took into account Choi Han’s heart, Choi Han’s heart for him.
Therefore, Alberu unleashed himself.
‘Ten minutes.’
He wasn’t thinking about holding on for that time.
He would do whatever it took to defeat Choi Han.
He faced Choi Han with that attitude.
‘I can hurt Choi Han.’
Even that thought.
Alberu had bet everything.
Crack!
Kwaaang-
Electric current and explosion.
Choi Han, whose form wasn’t even visible among them.
The white lance extended towards him.
“Oh.”
That lance contained the fundamentals he had been accumulating for a long time.
A high-level Wu.
And the determined heart of the one who wields it.
It was a martial art that could make the Heavenly Demon marvel.
Alberu was as good with the lance as he was with magic.
Moreover-
Wooong-
Crack, crack.
Aura and mana.
The white lance, which combined those two, was like the light emanating from the sun.
“…….”
Passote, the leader of Dark Abyss, bit his lip at seeing this.
A high-level duel beyond what he expected-
‘No, it’s not that.’
That guy’s eyes were like those of a general on the battlefield.
What was happening now was a war being waged in a small space.
Alberu got closer to the center of the explosion.
Wooong-
The mana vibrated.
The high-density mana concentrated everywhere reacted to Alberu.
Wooong-
Although he hadn’t become a Sword Master, the smoke emanating from the lance of a high-level aura knight wasn’t something that simply dissipated.
It was definitely enveloping the lance.
Wooong-
Meanwhile, the mana was approaching Alberu’s body.
It gathered, and it gathered more.
Because Alberu kept attracting it.
‘It’s my best effort!’
This is my best effort.
The moment the tip of Alberu’s lance was directed towards Choi Han.
Swoosh-
The mana that was connected to the lance pushed the dust of the explosion.
The inside of the typhoon, which was exploding, began to be visible.
“!”
And Alberu’s pupils faltered.
‘…Darkness-!’
The center of the explosion, which was bursting in white and gold.
The dust cloud where the lightning swirled.
In the center of the typhoon was darkness.
‘No.’
It’s not darkness. There were small lights flickering in the darkness.
‘Night.’
No.
‘Choi Han.’
Yes, that’s Choi Han.
Choi Han, who had been with his eyes closed, opened them.
And a dragon appeared over him.
It seemed like a dragon had opened its eyes.
The semi-transparent black dragon, which had been curled up, moved.
Choi Han’s sword drew a line.
The black aura that enveloped Choi Han’s entire body.
He felt something wild, warm, and yet, something that would never bend in that aura.
‘Ah.’
Alberu realized.
That is the ‘Aura’.
That is what Choi Han obtained.
He finally understood Choi Han’s words.
Why he had asked him to defend instead of attack.
The current Alberu can’t hurt Choi Han. Because no one could get close to someone who possesses such a solid aura. Rather, before the attack arrives-
‘Yes, that’s it.’
Choi Han took a step forward.
As he took a step, as he extended his sword.
A path was created.
Like when he faced the Blue Blood Demon’s blue aura in the past.
Choi Han had also created his own path this time.
As always.
Therefore, he advanced.
‘Damn it!’
Alberu bit his lip.
His face distorted.
Irritation overwhelmed him instead of joy.
The white lance that Alberu had been wielding with all his strength.
The black-covered sword approached Alberu.
‘Damn it!’
He lost.
Alberu closed his eyes.
Choi Han didn’t stop and swung his sword.
The white lance and the black sword clashed.
Kwaaang-
A vibration even greater than the one that had pushed all the dust of the explosion enveloped the surroundings.
Thud.
The floor of the training ground cracked, and the pillars of the shelter swayed.
“…this is over.”
The moment Passote, the leader of Dark Abyss, said that, trying to contain his chill.
Swish-
The view began to become visible gradually, along with the wind.
“Well.”
At that moment, the Heavenly Demon smiled strangely while checking the time.
Passote, who was about to react, stopped.
“!”
His eyes widened.
“Coff!”
Alberu coughed.
Slowly, he looked up.
Crackle-
The white lance broke.
Alberu had abandoned the white lance the moment the black sword and the white lance clashed.
Choi Han hadn’t expected him to do that.
Therefore, he had broken the white lance, but he couldn’t reach Alberu beyond it.
Although he swung his sword towards Alberu, who had abandoned his weapon, a little late.
Kwang-!
Although the floor of the training ground sank deeply.
‘Too late.’
Choi Han’s black sword couldn’t hurt Alberu.
“…….”
Choi Han looked at Alberu.
Alberu rolled on the ground to dodge the black sword. His body, which was completely curled up.
The armor that enveloped his body. It was white armor created with mana. Moreover, there were five or more shields. Alberu had blocked the black sword, which had been swung hastily by Choi Han’s wavering heart, but he was perfectly fine.
With the high-density mana that had enveloped his body, breaking all the magic stones he had saved with his meager budget.
He had reserved his last move.
The Heavenly Demon, who was watching, opened his mouth.
“Choi Han is sentimental.”
If it were an enemy.
“He would have aimed for his life beyond the weapon.”
Instead of aiming for the weapon. But Choi Han couldn’t do that because Alberu wasn’t an enemy.
“That guy is good at politics more than fighting.”
And Alberu had fought taking all that into account. His war, his life, had been built differently from Choi Han’s. Choi Han closed his eyes tightly and then opened them, and spoke.
“I have lost.”
He didn’t know how much time had passed.
Ten minutes.
That time wasn’t important.
Alberu’s attitude, who had even abandoned his weapon and was willing to achieve his goal no matter the means or method.
Seeing this, Choi Han realized his carelessness. Moreover, he realized again the true strength of Alberu, something he had forgotten.
“I recognize it.”
The moment Choi Han said that.
Snick.
The moment Alberu straightened up, extending his body, which was curled up in an unattractive way.
“Ten minutes.”
Cale got up from his seat and said.
“Exactly ten minutes have passed.”
And Alberu, who was shaking off the dust, said naturally.
“Of course, I must recognize it.”
His cheerful smile really went well with the white armor.
[Mission Completed]
It was the moment the Sword of the Sun was placed in Alberu’s hands.
* * *
At that moment...
“What did he say?”
The Pope of the Church of the Sun God couldn’t hide his surprise at hearing the words of the bishop, who was relaying the words of the Saint.
“…the Saint-”
The bishop said, trying to calm down.
“He said that a forgotten Sacred Object has reappeared on the continent.”
“…Really?”
“Yes, it’s true. The Sword of the Sun.”
The bishop continued speaking in a trembling voice.
“The Saint felt it, the Sacred Object that is said to appear when the world needs to be saved.”
The Church of the Sun God. It was the moment when an event that would cause a great impact on their leadership had happened.
* * *
“Young Master, the first round of the preliminary will be easy, right?”
Cale smiled cheerfully and spoke to the Heavenly Demon.
Alberu was with him as an escort, instead of Choi Han.
